ROY Hodgson, who will take over as Blackburn Rovers' new manager next month, could be a target for Sweden this time next year.

Tommy Svensson, the Swedish national coach, has announced his intention to quit the post after the 1998 World Cup finals in France.

And Swedish newspapers have named Hodgson as one of around 15 potential candidates for the job.

The hit list could also include Sven Goran Eriksson, set to join Lazio after doing an about-turn on his pledge to move from Sampdoria to Ewood.

Hodgson has been quoted in a Malmo newspaper as saying that he is looking forward to coming to Blackburn but that no-one can foresee what will happen in future.

The paper reported him as saying that he would be "flattered" by any such approach from the Swedish FA but that he always wants to fulfil contracts. Hodgson has no intention of doing "an Eriksson" and, after speaking to Jack Walker following last night's crucial game against Middlesbrough, he is set to arrive in Blackburn sometime in June.

Rovers are delighted that he will be able to sever his links with Inter Milan earlier than first thought.

And the short-term situation does not seem to be a problem. In the long term, however, who knows in football. - as Hodgson was a big success as national coach of Switzerland and has strong links with Sweden where he won trophies with both Halmstad and Malmo.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.